198 REPORT — 1864. 



A new balloon, however, needs trying in low ascents till it proves to be 

 gas-tight, before it can be used for great elevations. 



Ascent from the Crystal Palace, June 13, 1864. — On this ascent the balloon 

 left the grounds of tJae Crystal Palace at 7 o'clock. The sky was cloudless, 

 and the air perfectly clear, excepting in the dii-ection of London. 



An elevation of 1000 feet was reached in 1^ minute; 3000 feet was at- 

 tained at T** 8™, when the balloon turned to desceud, and passed down to 2300 

 feet by T*" 13'" ; on reascending, 3400 feet was gained at 7^ 20™ ; after taking 

 a slight dip, it again ascended to 3550 feet (the highest point) by 7*" 28" ; then 

 descended to 2500 feet, and after several small ascents, began the downward 

 journey at 7'' 50" from the height of 2800 feet, reaching the ground at East 

 Horndon, 5 miles fi-om Brentwood, at S"" 14". 



Ascent from Derhi/, Jane 20, 1864. — The balloon left Derby at 17 minutes 

 past 6"^ p.m. ; at G" 30" the height of 1000 feet was reached, the next 1000 feet 

 being passed in half a minute ; then ascended less rapidly ; cloud was entered 

 at 6" 26", 3600 feet being gained, and 4000 feet at 6'' 30" ; descended to 

 2700 feet by 6** 36", being over Ilkeston ; Ifottingham^ and its race-course 

 were visible at 6*^ 41" ; we then reascended to 4300 feet at G^ 50" ; on de- 

 scending, passed over Southwell at O"" 56", and touched the groimd at 7'' 16" 

 on a farm at Norwell Woodhouse, near K^ewark. 



Ascent from the Cri/stal Palace, June 27, 1864. — The balloon left the 

 grounds of the Crystal Palace at 6"^ 33|" ; the sky was cloudy, and the wind 

 was blowing from the West. 



At 6^" 38", when 1000 feet fi-om the earth, we crossed over Penge, reached 

 1500 feet high at 6'' 43", descended to 800 feet by 6"^ 48", being over Short- 

 lands ; ascended to 1200 feet by 6'' 52", being over Hayes Common ; remained 

 at about this elevation for 8 minutes, descended about 300 feet, and then as- 

 cended to 4200 feet by 7^ 16" ; descended 1000 feet slowly, and reascended. 

 to the height of 5000 feet by 7^ 42" ; began to descend, passing over the Ictt 

 of Tonbridge, near the village of Hudlow, and over the Medway on reaching 

 2400 feet at S^ 8" ; we then ascended 1200 feet, andTaegan to descend again 

 at 8^ 15", passing between Hawkhurst and Cranbrook ; were within 600 feet 

 of the earth at 8'' 55", being nearly over Teuterden ; we then reascended, 

 and in 13 minutes had attained an elevation of 6000 feet, and reached the 

 earth at 9"^ 21" in llomney Marsh, about half a mile fi'om Cheyne Court, 

 4 miles from Lydd, and 5 miles from the coast. 



These several trial trips of the new balloon were made, and it had gradu- 

 ally become gas-tight, and capable of any work reqidred, when at Leicester, 

 I regret to say, it was destroyed with all its appurtenances. 



One would scarcely beheve it possible that such an act could take place in 

 the centre of England in the present day, but it was so destroyed, and eflect- 

 ually stopped all the preaiTanged experiments. The Mayor of Leicester has 

 presided over meetings for the purpose of collecting subscriptions to assist 

 Mr. Coxwell to rebuild a new balloon, which I hope will help to remove the 

 stigma now resting upon Leicester ; and I trust the Foresters will also help 

 to remove the stain now resting upon them ; for if not the act of the Foresters 

 themselves, it was at one of their gatherings, under their supeiintendence, 

 and the destruction of the balloon was not, so far as I can learn, attempted 

 to be stopped by those Foresters present. 



!Mr. Coxwell then had recourse fb the old balloon, which he had repaiix'd as 

 best he could, and the next and last ascent of which I have to speak took place. 



Ascent from the Crystal Palace, August 29, 1864. — At 4' 6" 30' the balloon 

 rose from the Crystal Palace, passing the first 3000 feet in 4 minutes, after 



I 



